A/D conversion circuit, control method thereof, solid-state imaging device, and imaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

An A/D conversion circuit includes: an input capacitance to which an input signal and a reference signal are sequentially applied; an operational amplifier; a first switch connected between the other end of the input capacitance and a first input end of the operational amplifier; a feedback capacitance connected to the first input end of the operational amplifier; a second switch connected between the other end of the feedback capacitance and an output end of the operational amplifier; a third switch selectively applying a predetermined voltage to the other end of the feedback capacitance; a fourth switch selectively causing a short circuit between the first input end and the output end of the operational amplifier; a fifth switch applying the predetermined voltage to a second input end of the operational amplifier; and a sixth switch applying a ramp reference voltage to the second input end of the operational amplifier.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2007-149904 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Jun.6, 2007, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversioncircuit, a control method thereof, a solid-state imaging device, and animaging apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to anA/D conversion circuit having a comparator, a control method thereof, asolid-state imaging device using the A/D conversion circuit, and animaging apparatus having the solid-state imaging device.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the solid-state imaging device, for example, the CMOS (ComplementaryMetal Oxide Semiconductor), it maybe difficult to achieve small areaoccupation of a circuit part and noise reduction at the same time. Toreduce noise in the CMOS image sensor, there is known a technology that,in a readout circuit (column circuit), which is arranged for each columnof a pixel arrangement of a pixel array part to read out signals frompixels, reduces noise by performing an arithmetic on a narrow noise bandsignal on the basis of a capacitance ratio using a switched capacitorcircuit to amplify the signal, and inputting and converting theamplified signal (for example, see JP-A-2005-269471).

By simply incorporating an integral-type A/D conversion circuit, whichis advantageous in terms of the area, with the signal amplifyingcircuit, it is possible to realize a readout circuit, which can performA/D conversion while reducing noise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the related art, in the readout circuit, which is arranged for eachcolumn of the pixel arrangement of pixel array part to read out thesignals from the pixels, a circuit part is divided into a signalamplifying part and an A/D converting part. For this reason, even if thearea of each circuit is optimized, the total area of the readout circuitmay not become smaller than the area when the signal amplifying circuitand the A/D conversion circuit are simply incorporated with each other.

The signal amplifying circuit, which is constituted from the switchedcapacitor circuit, performs signal amplification, and a comparator,which constitutes the A/D conversion circuit, performs signal comparisonof a pixel signal and at least one reference direct current voltage.That is, the readout circuit is constituted from independent functionalcircuits. For this reason, the occupation area of the readout circuitmay not be reduced.

Accordingly, there is a need for an A/D conversion circuit, which canreduce an occupation area of a readout circuit (column circuit), acontrol method thereof, a solid-state imaging device using the A/Dconversion circuit, and an imaging apparatus having the solid-stateimaging device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an A/Dconversion circuit. The A/D conversion circuit includes: an inputcapacitance, to one end of which an input signal and a reference signalare sequentially applied; an operational amplifier; a first switch thatis connected between the other end of the input capacitance and a firstinput end of the operational amplifier, and is turned on at the time ofa signal amplification operation; a feedback capacitance, one end ofwhich is connected to the first input end of the operational amplifier;a second switch that is connected between the other end of the feedbackcapacitance and an output end of the operational amplifier, and isturned on when an electric charge accumulated in the input capacitanceis transferred to the feedback capacitance; a third switch thatselectively applies a predetermined voltage to the other end of thefeedback capacitance when the input signal is applied to the one end ofthe input capacitance or at the time of an A/D conversion operation; afourth switch that, when the input signal is applied to the one end ofthe input capacitance, selectively causes a short circuit between thefirst input end and the output end of the operational amplifier; a fifthswitch that, when the input signal and the reference signal are appliedto the one end of the input capacitance, applies the predeterminedvoltage to a second input end of the operational amplifier; and a sixthswitch that is turned on at the time of the A/D conversion operation toapply a ramp reference voltage to the second input end of theoperational amplifier.

In the A/D conversion circuit having the above-described configuration,first, the first switch, the third switch, the fourth switch, and thefifth switch are turned on to sample and hold the input signal in theinput capacitance. Next, the second switch is turned on, and the thirdswitch and the fourth switch are turned off to apply the referencesignal to the one end of the input capacitance, and to transfer anelectric charge accumulated in the input capacitance to the feedbackcapacitance, thereby performing the signal amplification operation.After the signal amplification operation, the first switch, the secondswitch, and the fourth switch are turned off, and the third switch andthe fifth switch are turned on to apply the ramp reference voltage tothe second input end of the operational amplifier through the fifthswitch, thereby performing the A/D conversion operation.

According to the embodiments of the invention, by performing the signalamplification operation at different times using the circuit elements ofthe A/D conversion circuit, the circuit elements can be commonly usedfor A/D conversion and signal amplification. Therefore, the occupationarea of the A/D conversion circuit can be reduced, compared with a casewhere the signal amplifying circuit is simply incorporated with the A/Dconversion circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a CMOSimage sensor to which the invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a unit pixel;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of an A/Dconversion circuit according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view (first view) illustrating the operationwhen an A/D conversion circuit performs signal amplification;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view (second view) illustrating the operationwhen an A/D conversion circuit performs signal amplification;

FIG. 6 is a timing chart used to explain the operation when an A/Dconversion circuit performs signal amplification;

FIG. 7 is a timing chart used to explain the operation of integralarithmetic in an A/D conversion circuit.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view (first view) illustrating the operationwhen an A/D conversion circuit performs A/D conversion;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view (second view) illustrating the operationwhen an A/D conversion circuit performs A/D conversion;

FIG. 10 is a timing chart used to explain the operation when an A/Dconversion circuit performs A/D conversion;

FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing a timing relationship when signalamplification is performed by an operation of integral arithmetic andthen A/D conversion is performed; and

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of an imaging apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of asolid-state imaging element, for example, a CMOS image sensor, to whichthe invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, a CMOS image sensor 10 according to this embodimentincludes a pixel array part 11, in which unit pixels (hereinafter, alsosimply referred to as ‘pixel’) 20 each having a photoelectric conversionelement are arranged in a matrix and in a two-dimensional manner, andperipheral circuits.

The peripheral circuits of the pixel array part 11 include, for example,a vertical scanning circuit 12, a column circuit 13, a horizontalscanning circuit 14, an output circuit 15, and the like. These circuitsare integrated on the same chip (semiconductor substrate) as the pixelarray part 11.

In the matrix arrangement of the pixel array part 11, a vertical signalline 111 is wired for each column, and driving control lines, forexample, a transfer control line 112, a reset control line 113, and aselection control line 114, are wired for each row (see FIG. 2).

The vertical scanning circuit 12 has a shift register, an addressdecoder, and the like. The vertical scanning circuit 12 performs anelectronic shutter operation on an electronic shutter row to discard thesignals of the pixels 20 in that row, while scanning the pixels 20 ofthe pixel array part 11 on a row basis for an electronic shutter row anda readout row in a vertical direction (up/down direction). In addition,the vertical scanning circuit 12 performs a readout operation on thereadout row to read out the signals of the pixels 20 in that row.

Though not shown, the vertical scanning circuit 12 has a readoutscanning system that performs the readout operation to read out thesignals of the pixels 20 in the readout row, while sequentially scanningthe pixels 20 on the row basis, and an electronic shutter scanningsystem that performs the electronic shutter operation on the same row(electronic shutter row) earlier than readout scanning by the readoutscanning system by the time corresponding to the shutter speed.

A period from a time, at which an unnecessary electric charge in aphotoelectric converting part is reset according to shutter scanning bythe electronic shutter scanning system, to a time, at which the signalof the pixel 20 is read out by readout scanning by the readout scanningsystem, becomes a signal charge accumulation period (exposure period) inthe pixel 20. That is, the electronic shutter operation refers to anoperation to reset (discard) the signal charge accumulated in thephotoelectric converting part and to start to newly accumulate a signalcharge after the reset.

The column circuit 13 is arranged, for example, for each pixel column inthe pixel arrangement of the pixel array part 11. That is, the columncircuit 13 is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with respect tothe pixel column. The column circuit 13 is a readout circuit that readsout the signals to be output from the pixels 20 in the readout row(selected row) through the vertical signal line 111 by vertical scanningof the vertical scanning circuit 12. Then, the column circuit 13performs a predetermined signal processing on the read pixel signals andsimultaneously temporarily stores the pixel signals after the signalprocessing.

More specifically, the column circuit 13 performs various processing,including a noise reducing processing (for example, a CDS (CorrelatedDouble Sampling) processing) to reduce reset noise or fixed patternnoise unique to the pixel, such as a variation in a threshold value ofan amplification transistor 24 (see FIG. 2), on the pixel signals to beoutput from the pixels 20 in the selected row through the verticalsignal line 111.

The column circuit 13 further has an analog-to-digital conversioncircuit that converts the analog pixel signals into digital pixelsignals. This embodiment is characterized by the concrete configurationand operation of the A/D conversion circuit used in the column circuit13, and the details thereof will be described below.

Here, the column circuit 13 is provided for each column in the pixelarrangement of the pixel array part 11, but a single column circuit 13may be provided for every multiple columns. In this case, the singlecolumn circuit 13 may be used among the multiple columns in a timedivision manner.

The horizontal scanning circuit 14 has a shift register, an addressdecoder, and the like. The horizontal scanning circuit 14 sequentiallydrives the column circuits 13 arranged to correspond to the pixelcolumns of the pixel array part 11 by sequentially outputting horizontalselection pulses  H1 to φHn, and sequentially driving horizontalselection switches (not shown) provided at the output ends of the columncircuits 13, and reads out the pixel signals, which are temporarilystored in the column circuit 13, to the horizontal signal line 16.

The output circuit 15 performs various processing on the pixel signals,which are transmitted through the horizontal signal line 16. Forexample, in the output circuit 15, signal processing, such asblack-level adjustment, column-variation correction, color processing,and the like, may be performed. In addition, only a buffering processingmay be performed.

Timing signals for reference of the operations of the vertical scanningcircuit 12, the column circuit 13, the horizontal scanning circuit 14,the output circuit 15, and the like, and control signals are generatedby a timing control circuit (timing generator) (not shown).

(Pixel Circuit)

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a unit pixel 20.

The unit pixel 20 according to this example is a pixel circuit that has,in addition to a photoelectric conversion element, for example, aphotodiode 21, four transistors, that is, a transfer transistor 22, areset transistor 23, an amplification transistor 24, and a selectiontransistor 25. Here, N-channel MOS transistors are used as thetransistors 22 to 25, but the invention is not limited thereto.

The transfer transistor 22 is connected between a cathode of thephotodiode 21 and a floating diffusion part (hereinafter, referred to as“FD part”) 26. The transfer transistor 22 transfers a signal charge (inthis case, an electron), which is photoelectrically converted by andaccumulated in the photodiode 21, to the FD part 26 when a transferpulse TRG is applied to a gate electrode (control electrode) thereof.The FD part 26 functions as a charge voltage converting part thatconverts the signal charge into a voltage signal.

The reset transistor 23 has a drain electrode connected to a pixel powersupply of a power supply voltage VDD, and a source electrode connectedto the FD part 26. The reset transistor 23 resets the potential of theFD part 26 to the power supply voltage VDD when a reset pulse RST isapplied to a gate electrode thereof before the signal charge istransferred from the photodiode 21 to the FD part 26.

The amplification transistor 24 has a gate electrode connected to the FDpart 26, and a drain electrode connected to the pixel power supply ofthe power supply voltage VDD. The amplification transistor 24 outputsthe potential of the FD part 26 at a reset level (P-phase signal) afterbeing reset by the reset transistor 23, and outputs the potential of theFD part 26 at a signal level (D-phase signal) after the transfertransistor 22 transfers the signal charge.

The selection transistor 25 has, for example, a drain electrodeconnected to the source electrode of the amplification transistor 24,and a source electrode connected to the vertical signal line 111. When aselection pulse SEL is applied to a gate electrode of the selectiontransistor 25, the pixels 20 are selected, and the signals output fromthe amplification transistor 24 are output to the vertical signal line111. The selection transistor 25 maybe connected between the pixel powersupply and the drain electrode of the amplification transistor 24.

Here, the invention has been applied to the CMOS image sensor having thefour-transistor type unit pixel 20, which has the transfer transistor22, the reset transistor 23, the amplification transistor 24, and theselection transistor 25. However, the invention is not limited thereto.

Specifically, the selection transistor 25 maybe omitted, and the voltagevalue of the power supply voltage VDD may be switched. If so, theinvention may be applied to a CMOS image sensor having athree-transistor type unit pixel, in which the amplification transistor24 also functions as the selection transistor 25.

[A/D Conversion Circuit]

Next, the A/D conversion circuit, which is a feature of this embodiment,will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is acircuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of an A/D conversioncircuit 30 according to an embodiment of the invention.

(Circuit Configuration of A/D Conversion Circuit)

The A/D conversion circuit 30 according to this embodiment includes 10switches SW1 to SW10, two capacitances C1 and C2, and one operationalamplifier OP. To the A/D conversion circuit 30, the pixel signal isapplied from each of the pixels 20 in the selected row through thevertical signal line 111 as an input signal Vin.

The switch SW1 is turned on (closed)/turned off (opened) according to acontrol signal Φin1 to selectively load the input signal Vin. The switchSW2 is turned on/off according to a control signal Φin2 to selectivelyload a reference signal Vref. The capacitance C1 is an inputcapacitance, and one end thereof is commonly connected to the outputends of the switches SW1 and SW2.

One end of the switch SW3 (first switch) is connected to the other endof the input capacitance C1, and the other end thereof is connected toan inverting (−) input end (first input end) of the operationalamplifier OP. The switch SW3 is turned on/off according to a controlsignal Φi to appropriately connect the other end of the switch SW3 andthe inverting input end of the operational amplifier OP. The switch SW4is turned on/off according to a control signal Φin3 to selectively applya common signal Vcom to the input end of the switch SW3.

The capacitance C2 is a feedback capacitance, and one end thereof isconnected to the inverting input end of the operational amplifier OP.One end of the switch (second switch) SW5 is connected to the other endof the feedback capacitance C2, and the other end thereof is connectedto an output end of the operational amplifier OP. The switch SW5 isturned on/off according to a control signal Φb to selectively connectthe feedback capacitance C2 between the inverting input end and theoutput end of the operational amplifier OP.

The switch SW6 (third switch) is turned on/off according to a controlsignal Φbcom to selectively apply a predetermined voltage, for example,the voltage of the common signal Vcom, to the other end of the feedbackcapacitance C2. The switch (fourth switch) SW7 is turned on/offaccording to a control signal Φs to selectively cause a short circuitbetween the inverting input end and the output end of the operationalamplifier OP.

The switch (sixth switch) SW8 is turned on/off according to a controlsignal Φgref to selectively load a reference voltage Vsw having a rampwaveform, which is applied from a reference voltage generating source41, and to apply the reference voltage Vsw to the non-inverting (+)input end (second input end) of the operational amplifier OP.

The switch (fifth switch) SW9 is turned on/off according to a controlsignal Φgcom to selectively load the common signal Vcom and to apply thecommon signal Vcom to the non-inverting input end of the operationalamplifier OP. The switch SW10 is turned on/off according to a controlsignal Φcpm to selectively load a comparison reference voltage Vcmp andto apply the comparison reference voltage Vcmp to the non-invertinginput end of the operational amplifier OP.

The A/D conversion circuit 30 having the above-described configurationaccording to this embodiment amplifies the input signal Vin, and thenperforms A/D conversion. That is, the A/D conversion circuit 30 has asignal amplification function, as well as the A/D conversion function.

(Circuit Operation of A/D Conversion Circuit)

Hereinafter, the circuit operations of the A/D conversion circuit 30according to this embodiment will be described in detail at the time ofsignal amplification and at the time of A/D conversion.

<Signal Amplification>

First, a signal amplification operation will be described with referenceto operation explanatory views of FIGS. 4 and 5 and a timing chart ofFIG. 6. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the switches SW4 and SW8 are not shown becausethey are irrelevant to the signal amplification operation.

Sampling Phase

Referring to the timing chart of FIG. 6, the control signal Φn1 becomesthe high level (hereinafter, referred to as ‘“H” level’) at a time t11,and the switch SW1 is turned on. Then, the input signal Vin is input toone end of the input capacitance C1, such that a differential voltagebetween a voltage at a virtual ground (inverting input end) of theoperational amplifier OP and the input signal Vin is accumulated(sampled and held) in the input capacitance C1 as an electric charge.

At this time, since the control signals Φi, Φbcom, Φs, and Φgcom becomethe “H” level, as shown in FIG. 4, the switches SW3, SW6, SW7, and SW9are also turned on. If the switches SW6 and SW9 are turned on, thepotentials at both ends of the feedback capacitance C2 become thevoltage of the common signal Vcom, and the charge accumulated in thefeedback capacitance C2 is initialized to zero.

At a time t12, the control signal Φs becomes the low level (hereinafter,referred to as ‘“L” level’), and at a time t13, the control signal Φbcombecomes the “L” level, such that the switches SW6 and SW7 are turnedoff. Then, negative feedback is applied to the operational amplifier OPthrough the feedback capacitance C2. Accordingly, the potential at theinverting input end of the operational amplifier OP becomes the voltageof the common signal Vcom.

Transfer Phase

Subsequently, at a time t14, the control signal Φb becomes the “H”level, and at a time t15, the control signal Φin1 becomes the “L” level.Then, at a time t16, the control signal Φin2 becomes “H” level.Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, the switches SW2 and SW5 are turned on,and the switch SW1 is turned off.

If the switch SW2 is turned on, and the reference signal Vref is appliedto one end of the input capacitance C1, the charge accumulated in theinput capacitance C1 is transferred to the feedback capacitance C2through the switch SW3. Then, a voltage, which is represented by thecapacitance ratio C1/C2 of the capacitances C1 and C2, an input voltagedifference, and the common signal Vcom, that is,(C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref)+Vcom, appears at the output end of the operationalamplifier OP.

In this way, the input signal Vin is amplified with the capacitanceratio C1/C2 of the capacitances C1 and C2. An electric charge, whichgenerates an output voltage of the operational amplifier OP, that is,(C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref)+Vcom, is accumulated in the feedback capacitance C2.

Here, in regards to the signal input, the input signal Vin and thereference signal Vref are sequentially input by switching the switchesSW1 and SW2. Alternatively, instead of switching the switches SW1 andSW2, time-variant signals, that is, the P-phase signal (reset level) andthe D-phase signal (signal level), may be sequentially input.

<Integral Arithmetic>

By performing integral arithmetic to repeat an integral operation forthe above-described signal amplification a desired number of times, thesignal may be further amplified. The integral arithmetic operation willbe described with reference to a timing chart of FIG. 7. Here, adescription will be given for an example where the desired number oftimes, that is, the number of integrals, is N. The number of integrals Nmay be arbitrarily determined according to a circuit designer.

Times t21 to t26 in the timing chart of FIG. 7 correspond to the timest11 to t16 in the timing chart of FIG. 6. That is, the electric charge,which generates the voltage after the signal amplification by theoperations during the above-described sampling phase and transfer phase,that is, (C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref)+Vcom, is accumulated in the feedbackcapacitance C2.

At a time t27, the control signal Φb becomes the “L” level, and theswitch SW5 is turned off. Then, the other end of the feedbackcapacitance C2 becomes a high impedance state.

Next, at a time t28, the control signal Φin2 becomes the “L” level, andthe switch SW2 is turned off. Subsequently, at a time t29, the controlsignal Φs becomes the “H” level, and the switch SW7 is turned on tocause a short circuit between the inverting input end and the output endof the operational amplifier OP. Simultaneously, the control signal Φin1becomes the “H” level, and the switch SW1 is turned on to load the inputsignal Vin. If the inverting input end and the output end of theoperational amplifier OP are short-circuited, an electric charge, whichis determined by a short voltage and the voltage of the input signalVin, is accumulated in the input capacitance C1.

Subsequently, at times t30 and t31, the control signal Φs and thecontrol signal Φin1 sequentially become the “L” level, and the switchesSW7 and SW1 are sequentially turned off. Next, at a time t32, thecontrol signals Φb and Φin2 become the “H” level, and the switches SW5and SW2 are turned on. Then, the electric charge accumulated in theinput capacitance C1 by the operation during the transfer phase istransferred to the feedback capacitance C2.

If so, the electric charge newly transferred to the feedback capacitanceC2 is synthesized with the electric charge previously transferred to thefeedback capacitance C2. Accordingly, the output voltage of theoperational amplifier OP becomes 2(C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref)+Vcom. By repeatingthe integral arithmetic operation N times, finally, a voltageN(C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref)+Vcom is output from the operational amplifier OP.

After the integral arithmetic operation is repeated N times, the controlsignal Φb becomes the “L” level to turn off the switch SW5, and thecontrol signal Φbcom becomes the “H” level to turn on the switch SW6.Accordingly, a voltage at the inverting input end of the operationalamplifier OP becomes the voltage N(C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref)+Vcom.

In this way, for ease of understanding, if C1=C2, by repeating theintegral arithmetic operation N times for signal amplification of theinput signal Vin with the capacitance ratio C1/C2, the input signal Vincan be amplified N times.

Here, laying focus on random noise input to the column circuit 13 fromthe pixel 20 through the vertical signal line 111, in the AID conversioncircuit 30, input random noise VinN is sampled and held by the inputcapacitance C1 N times and added by the feedback capacitance C2.Accordingly, noise is distributed N times, and VoutN output from the A/Dconversion circuit 30 becomes approximately √N·VinN. Therefore, even ifthe input signal Vin is amplified N times, random noise does not becomeapproximately √N times, thereby obtaining a pixel signal having goodS/N.

<A/D Conversion>

Next, an A/D conversion operation will be described with reference tooperation explanatory views of FIGS. 8 and 9 and a timing chart of FIG.10. In FIG. 9, the switches SW1 to SW3, SW5, SW7, and SW9, and the inputcapacitance C1 are not shown because they are irrelevant to the A/Dconversion operation.

Referring to the timing chart of FIG. 10, at a time t 41 at which thecontrol signal Φb becomes the “L” level, and the switch SW5 is turnedoff, the signal amplification operation with the capacitance ratio C1/C2is shifted to the A/D conversion operation, and the operationalamplifier OP operates as a comparator.

Hereinafter, for ease of understanding, it is assumed that the voltageat the inverting input end of the operational amplifier OP is(C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref)+Vcom.

Comparison Phase

After signal amplification, at the time t41, the switch SW5 is turnedoff. Next, at a time t42, the control signal Φi becomes the “L” level,and the switch SW3 is turned off. Subsequently, at a time t43, thecontrol signals Φbcom and Φcmp become the “H” level, and the switchesSW6 and SW10 are turned on.

If the switch SW6 is turned on, the voltage of the common signal Vcom isapplied to the output end (the other end) of the feedback capacitanceC2. At this time, the voltage Vcom at the output end of the feedbackcapacitance C2 may differ from the voltage at the time ofinitialization. The voltage Vcom is adjusted to an operation voltage ofthe comparator (operational amplifier OP).

In addition, if the switch SW10 is turned on, a comparison referencevoltage Vcmp is applied to the non-inverting input end of theoperational amplifier OP. Accordingly, the operational amplifier OPoperates as a comparator to compare the voltage (C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref) withthe comparison reference voltage Vcmp.

With the comparison operation, if (C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref)>Vcmp, the integralarithmetic operation for signal amplification is interrupted. If(C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref)≦Vcmp, the flow returns to the sampling phase, and theintegral arithmetic operation is performed again (Adaptive IntegralOperation).

A/D Conversion Phase

Subsequently, at a time t44, the control signal Φgref becomes the “H”level, and the switch SW8 is turned on, such that the ramp-waveformreference voltage Vsw is applied to the non-inverting input end of theoperational amplifier OP. The reference voltage Vsw is needed for A/Dconversion and temporally varies with a predetermined slope.

The comparator (operational amplifier OP), which sets the referencevoltage Vsw as the comparison reference voltage, and compares thereference Vsw with the input voltage (C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref), and a counter42, which is connected to the output end of the comparator, as shown inFIG. 9, constitute the A/D conversion circuit 30 according to thisembodiment, that is, an integral-type A/D conversion circuit.

In the integral-type A/D conversion circuit 30, the counter 42 performsa count operation in synchronization with a clock CK having apredetermined cycle, and simultaneously starts the count operation at atiming when the reference voltage Vsw is applied to the non-invertinginput end of the operational amplifier OP (time t44). The counter 42stops the count operation in response to the output (comparison output)of the operational amplifier OP when the input voltage(C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref) exceeds the reference voltage Vsw.

That is, the operational amplifier OP, which operates as the comparator,converts the input voltage (C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref) into information in atime-axis direction by comparing the input voltage (C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref)with the ramp-waveform reference voltage Vsw.

Then, the counter 42 performs the count operation in synchronizationwith the clock CK during a period from the start time to the end time ofthe comparison operation in the operational amplifier OP, therebyconverting the information in the time-axis direction into a count value(digital value). As a result, the input voltage (C1/C2)·(Vin−Vref) isconverted into a digital value.

<A/D Conversion After Integral Arithmetic>

FIG. 11 shows the timing relationship when A/D conversion is performedafter signal amplification by the integral arithmetic operation.

Times t28 to t32 in the timing chart of FIG. 11 correspond to the timest28 to t32 in the timing chart of FIG. 7, and times t41 to t44 in thetiming chart of FIG. 11 correspond to the times t41 to t44 in the timingchart of FIG. 10.

That is, during an integral period, the same operation as theabove-described integral arithmetic operation based on the timing chartof FIG. 7 is performed. In addition, during an A/D conversion period,the same operation as the above-described A/D conversion operation basedon the timing chart of FIG. 10 is performed.

In the foregoing description of the circuit operation, signalamplification is initially performed with the capacitance ratio C1/C2 orintegral arithmetic. Alternatively, before signal amplification isperformed with the capacitance ratio C1/C2 or integral arithmetic, thecircuit may operate as a comparator to determine the amplitude of theinput signal Vin, and may perform signal amplification with anamplification factor according to the amplitude of the input signal Vin.

Specifically, the amplitude of the input signal Vin is determined, andif the input signal Vin is equal to or larger than a predeterminedthreshold value, signal amplification is performed with a comparativelylow amplification factor. Meanwhile, when the input signal Vin is lessthan the predetermined threshold value, signal amplification isperformed with a comparatively high amplification factor. In this way,appropriate signal amplification can be performed according to theamplitude of the input signal Vin.

The amplification factor for signal amplification is determineddepending on the capacitance ratio C1/C2. Accordingly, by changing thecapacitance value of at least one of the capacitances C1 and C2according to the amplitude of the input signal Vin, the amplificationfactor according to the amplitude of the input signal Vin can be set.

Advantages of Embodiment

As described above, in addition to the operational amplifier OP, thefeedback capacitance C2, and the switches SW6 and SW8 (see FIG. 9),which are needed for the operation of the integral-type A/D conversion,at least the input capacitance C1 and the switches SW3 to SW4, SW7, SW9,and SW10 are further provided. In addition, each of the switches SW3 toSW4, SW7, SW9, and SW10 is turned on/off at an appropriate timing. Withthis configuration, A/D conversion can be performed after the inputsignal Vin is amplified. Therefore, the A/D conversion circuit 30 havinga signal amplification function can be implemented.

As such, by executing the signal amplification operation at differenttimes using the circuit elements of the A/D conversion circuit 30, thecircuit elements can be commonly used for A/D conversion and signalamplification. Therefore, the occupation area of the A/D conversioncircuit can be reduced, compared with the signal amplifying circuit issimply incorporated with the integral-type A/D conversion circuit.

If the input signal Vin has a small amplitude, due to the effects ofintegral arithmetic, noise of the input signal Vin can be reduced on aninput equivalent basis. Therefore, an integral-type AID conversioncircuit having good S/N can be implemented.

When the input signal Vin has a small amplitude, since the input signalVin is amplified by the signal amplification function, the temporalslope of the reference voltage Vsw can be roughened, and as a result,fast and low-power consumption AID conversion can be realized. When thetemporal slope of the reference voltage Vsw is not roughened, theresolution when the input signal Vin has a small amplitude can beimproved due to the effects of integral arithmetic.

Although a case where the AID conversion circuit 30 is provided withinthe column circuit 13 has been described in the foregoing embodiment,the invention can also be applied to a case where the AID conversioncircuit 30 is provided within the output circuit 15 or at the back ofthe output circuit 15.

If the A/D conversion circuit, which is provided within the columncircuit 13, is used, for example, when the column circuit 13 is arrangedfor each pixel column, the occupation area of the A/D conversion circuitfor each pixel column can be reduced. Therefore, it is very effectivefor reduction in the occupation area of the entire column circuit part.

The A/D conversion circuit 30 according to this embodiment is notlimitedly applied a solid-state imaging device, such as the CMOS imagesensor 10, in which the unit pixels are arranged in a matrix to detect asignal charge according to the amount of visible light as a physicalquantity. The A/D conversion circuit 30 may be used as a generalintegral-type A/D conversion circuit having a signal amplificationfunction.

By applying the A/D conversion circuit 30 to a solid-state imagingdevice, such as the CMOS image sensor 10, the following advantages canbe obtained. That is, when the A/D conversion circuit 30 is applied to asolid-state imaging device, A/D conversion may be performed whilevarying the amplification factor for each pixel. In this case, thevoltage of the common signal Vcom shown in FIG. 3 is switched to thecomparison reference voltage Vcmp and set as a threshold value forcomparison.

In the solid-state imaging device, a pixel signal (input signal) havingsmall amplitude becomes a signal at the time of low illuminance.Accordingly, as will be apparent from the above-described advantages, ina low-illuminance region, noise of the pixel signal can be reduced, fastand low-power consumption A/D conversion can be realized, and theresolution can be improved.

A pixel signal having large amplitude becomes a signal at the time ofhigh illuminance. A high-illuminance region is a region where shot noiseis dominant, and high resolution is not needed. Accordingly, at the timeof high illuminance, by roughening the resolution, a fast A/D conversionoperation can be realized.

[Modifications]

The invention is not limitedly applied to a solid-state imaging device,which detects the distribution of the incident amount of visible lightand takes it as an image. For example, the invention may be applied to asolid-state imaging device, which takes the distribution of the incidentamount of infrared rays or X rays, or particles, as an image, or in abroad sense, a solid-state imaging device (physical quantitydistribution detection device), such as a fingerprint detection sensor,which detects the distribution of a physical quantity, such as pressureor electrostatic capacitance, and takes it as an image.

The solid-state imaging device may be constituted from one chip or animaging function-equipped module, in which an imaging part, a signalprocessing part, and an optical system are collectively packaged.

The invention is not limitedly applied to a solid-state imaging device,but it may be applied to an imaging apparatus. Here, the imagingapparatus means an electronic apparatus having an imaging function, suchas a camera system (for example, a digital still camera or a videocamera), or a cellular phone. Moreover, the above-described module-typesolid-state imaging device, which is mounted on an electronic apparatus,that is, a camera module, may be an imaging apparatus.

[Imaging Apparatus]

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of an imaging apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 12, animaging apparatus 50 according to an embodiment of the inventionincludes an optical system having a lens array 51, a solid-state imagingdevice 52, a DSP circuit 53 as a camera signal processing circuit, aframe memory 54, a display device 55, a recording device 56, anoperating system 57, a power supply system 58, and the like. The DSPcircuit 53, the frame memory 54, the display device 55, the recordingdevice 56, the operating system 57, and the power supply system 58 areconnected with each other through a bus line 59.

The lens array 51 focuses incident light (image light) from a subject onan imaging surface of the solid-state imaging device 52. The solid-stateimaging device 52 converts the amount of incident light focused on theimaging surface by the lens array 51 into an electrical signal on thepixel basis, and outputs the electrical signal as a pixel signal. As thesolid-state imaging device 52, the CMOS image sensor 10 according to theforegoing embodiment is used.

The display device 55 is constituted from a panel-type display device,such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (electroluminescence)display. The display device 55 displays a motion picture or a stillpicture captured by the solid-state imaging device 52. The recordingdevice 56 records the motion picture or the still picture, which iscaptured by the solid-state imaging device 52, in a recording medium,such as a video tape or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

The operating system 57 issues an operation instruction of each functionof the imaging apparatus according to the user's operation. The powersupply system 58 appropriately supplies power to each of the DSP circuit53, the frame memory 54, the display device 55, the recording device 56,and the operating system 57 to flow an operation current therein.

As described above, in the imaging apparatus, for example, a videocamera, a digital still camera, or a camera module for a mobileapparatus, such as a cellular phone, as the solid-state imaging device52, the CMOS image sensor 10 according to the foregoing embodiment isused. Therefore, in the CMOS image sensor 10, the occupation area of thecolumn circuit provided in the A/D conversion circuit can be reduced,and as a result, a compact imaging apparatus can be implemented.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. An A/D conversion circuit, comprising: an input capacitance, to oneend of which an input signal and a reference signal are sequentiallyapplied; an operational amplifier; a first switch that is connectedbetween the other end of the input capacitance and a first input end ofthe operational amplifier, and is turned on at the time of a signalamplification operation; a feedback capacitance, one end of which isconnected to the first input end of the operational amplifier; a secondswitch that is connected between the other end of the feedbackcapacitance and an output end of the operational amplifier, and isturned on when an electric charge accumulated in the input capacitanceis transferred to the feedback capacitance; a third switch thatselectively applies a predetermined voltage to the other end of thefeedback capacitance when the input signal is applied to the one end ofthe input capacitance or at the time of an A/D conversion operation; afourth switch that, when the input signal is applied to the one end ofthe input capacitance, selectively causes a short circuit between thefirst input end and the output end of the operational amplifier; a fifthswitch that, when the input signal and the reference signal are appliedto the one end of the input capacitance, applies the predeterminedvoltage to a second input end of the operational amplifier; and a sixthswitch that is turned on at the time of the A/D conversion operation toapply a ramp reference voltage to the second input end of theoperational amplifier.
 2. A control method of an A/D conversion circuit,wherein the A/D conversion circuit includes an input capacitance, anoperational amplifier, a first switch that is connected between theother end of the input capacitance and a first input end of theoperational amplifier, a feedback capacitance, one end of which isconnected to the first input end of the operational amplifier, a secondswitch that is connected between the other end of the feedbackcapacitance and an output end of the operational amplifier, a thirdswitch that applies a predetermined voltage to the other end of thefeedback capacitance, a fourth switch that is connected between thefirst input end and the output end of the operational amplifier, a fifthswitch that, when the input signal is applied to the one end of theinput capacitance, applies the predetermined voltage to a second inputend of the operational amplifier, and a sixth switch that applies a rampreference voltage to the second input end of the operational amplifier,the control method comprising the steps of: tuning on the first switch,the third switch, the fourth switch, and the fifth switch to sample andhold the input signal in the input capacitance; turning on the secondswitch and turning off the third switch and the fourth switch to apply areference signal to the one end of the input capacitance, and totransfer an electric charge accumulated in the input capacitance to thefeedback capacitance, thereby performing a signal amplificationoperation; and after the signal amplification operation, turning off thefirst switch, the second switch, and the fourth switch, and turning onthe third switch and the fifth switch to apply the ramp referencevoltage to the second input end of the operational amplifier through thefifth switch, thereby performing an A/D conversion operation.
 3. Thecontrol method of an A/D conversion circuit according to claim 2,wherein the signal amplification operation is repeatedly performed apredetermined number of times.
 4. The control method of an A/Dconversion circuit according to claim 3, wherein, after the signalamplification operation, a voltage at the first input end of theoperational amplifier is compared with a reference voltage, if thevoltage at the first input end is larger than the reference voltage, theA/D conversion operation is performed, and if the voltage at the firstinput end is equal to or less than the reference voltage, the signalamplification operation is repeatedly performed.
 5. The control methodof an A/D conversion circuit according to claim 2, wherein, before thesignal amplification operation, the amplitude of the input signal isdetermined, and an amplification factor at the time of the signalamplification operation according to the amplitude of the input signalis set depending on a ratio between the input capacitance and thefeedback capacitance, the repetitive transfer of the electric charge tothe feedback capacitance, or a combination thereof.
 6. A solid-stateimaging device, comprising: a pixel array part, in which unit pixelseach having a photoelectric conversion element are arranged; and an A/Dconversion circuit that converts pixel signals to be output from theindividual pixels of the pixel array part into digital signals, whereinthe A/D conversion circuit includes an input capacitance, to one end ofwhich the input signal and a reference signal are sequentially applied,an operational amplifier, a first switch that is connected between theother end of the input capacitance and a first input end of theoperational amplifier, and is turned on at the time of a signalamplification operation, a feedback capacitance, one end of which isconnected to the first input end of the operational amplifier, a secondswitch that is connected between the other end of the feedbackcapacitance and an output end of the operational amplifier, and isturned on when an electric charge accumulated in the input capacitanceis transferred to the feedback capacitance, a third switch that, whenthe pixel signal is applied to the one end of the input capacitance, orat the time of the A/D conversion operation, selectively applies apredetermined voltage to the other end of the feedback capacitance, afourth switch that, when the pixel signal is applied to the one end ofthe input capacitance, selectively causes a short circuit between thefirst input end and the output end of the operational amplifier, a fifthswitch that, when the pixel signal and the reference signal are appliedto the one end of the input capacitance, applies the predeterminedvoltage to a second input end of the operational amplifier, and a sixthswitch that is turned on at the time of the A/D conversion operation toapply a ramp reference voltage to the second input end of theoperational amplifier.
 7. The solid-state imaging device according toclaim 6, wherein the A/D conversion circuit is provided for each columnor for every multiple columns of a pixel arrangement of the pixel arraypart.
 8. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 6, whereinthe pixel signal is at a signal level according to an electric charge,which is photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversionelement, and the reference signal is at a reset level when the unitpixel is reset.
 9. An imaging apparatus, comprising: a solid-stateimaging device that includes a pixel array part, in which unit pixelseach having a photoelectric conversion element are arranged, and an A/Dconversion circuit, which converts pixel signals to be output from theindividual pixels of the pixel array part into digital signals; and anoptical system that focuses incident light on an imaging surface of thesolid-state imaging device, wherein the A/D conversion circuit includesan input capacitance, to one end of which the input signal and areference signal are sequentially applied, an operational amplifier, afirst switch that is connected between the other end of the inputcapacitance and a first input end of the operational amplifier, and isturned on at the time of a signal amplification operation, a feedbackcapacitance, one end of which is connected to the first input end of theoperational amplifier, a second switch that is connected between theother end of the feedback capacitance and an output end of theoperational amplifier, and is turned on when an electric chargeaccumulated in the input capacitance is transferred to the feedbackcapacitance, a third switch that, when the pixel signal is applied tothe one end of the input capacitance, or at the time of the A/Dconversion operation, selectively applies a predetermined voltage to theother end of the feedback capacitance, a fourth switch that, when thepixel signal is applied to the one end of the input capacitance,selectively causes a short circuit between the first input end and theoutput end of the operational amplifier, a fifth switch that, when thepixel signal and the reference signal are applied to the one end of theinput capacitance, applies the predetermined voltage to a second inputend of the operational amplifier, and a sixth switch that is turned onat the time of the A/D conversion operation to apply a ramp referencevoltage to the second input end of the operational amplifier.